Review: La Noche Buena: A Christmas Story

Title: La Noche Buena: A Christmas Story

Author: Antonio
Sacre

Illustrator: Angela
Dominguez

Publisher: Abrams
Books for Young Readers

Year: 2010

Hardcover: 32 pages

Ages: 5 - 8

IBSN: 978-0810989672

Summary

La Noche Buena: A Christmas Storyis a charming story about a Cuban-American girl named Nina
who goes to spend Christmas with her father and his Cuban family in Little
Havana, Miami, Florida. Her parents are divorced so it is her dad's turn to
have her. She spends the following the next few days with her grandmother,
cousins, aunts, and uncles because her dad has to work until Christmas Day.

At
first, Nina wishes she was back up north with her mother and her side of the
family because Miami is too hot. She would have liked to play with snow. Her grandmother
Mimi only speaks Spanish, but encourages her to speak both Spanish and English.

The
family spends the next three days making preparations for La Noche Buena,
Christmas Eve. La Noche Buena is the best night of the year according to her
dad. Cubans celebrate big time that night.

Nina
learns to make marinade with her grandmother, aunts, and cousins in the
kitchen. Like the other children in Calle 8, she carries around the marinade. She
also helps her cousin Papito carry a pole over toward Uncle Tito, who is making
the pig roast.

When
La Noche Buena arrives, the family has an amazing time. Nina wears a brand-new
dress. Everyone looks sharp in their best dresses and guayabera shirts. Nina
and Papito collect fruits from the trees in the neighborhood. The family enjoys
a fabulous dinner. Mimi gives a wonderful toast about gratitude. The entire
neighborhood is celebrating. At midnight, they go to the Misa del Gallo, where
they hug everyone.

The
party keeps going when they go back to the house. The family dances and tells
stories and jokes until sunrise. Nina ends up very tired but super happy. At
the end, she asks Mimi if she can come back next year.

Comments

Reading this story with my daughters was a pure delight because I am part Cuban. I was
excited about showing them how Cubans celebrate Christmas, which by the way is
pretty similar to how Puerto Ricans do it.

The
illustrations are colorful and warm, matching Cubans attitude toward celebrations.
The story captures how Cuban-Americans celebrate Christmas in Little Havana,
Miami, Florida.

On
another note, the story briefly discusses the issue of divorced parents. My
oldest daughter asked questions about why the girl had to go to Little Havana
to spend Christmas while her mother stayed up north. I had a nice talk with my
her about some parents being divorced and how children have to spend time with
both parents separately. She understood, but thought it was sad. Prepare
yourself to answer this kind of questions with your children.